Richard Williams is an American basketball coach currently on the staff at the University of Southern Mississippi. He served as the head men's basketball coach at Mississippi State University from 1986 to 1998, compiling a record of 191–163. His 191 victories are the second most of any head coach in Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball program, history, bested only by his former assistant, Rick Stansbury. Williams's 1991 squad won the Southeastern Conference regular season championship and made the 1991 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, losing in the first round to Eastern Michigan. His 1995 squad made the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, and his 1996 squad made the school's only Final Four appearance, losing to Syracuse, 77–69. He received two SEC Coach of the Year